About Ottawa Swordplay

Ottawa Swordplay is dedicated to researching and teaching historical European martial arts, especially swordplay. We focus particularly on German sources, ranging from Royal Armouries MS I.33 "The Walpurgis Fechtbuch" from around 1320 CE, to various manuscripts of the Liechtenauer tradition, as late as Joachim Meyer's 1570 Magnum Opus "The Art of Combat."Historical European martial arts are gaining popularity around the world, and with increased access to original manuscripts and improved networking between instructors, more information on these sophisticated combat systems is constantly coming back into the light. The medieval warrior, whether a knight or a common soldier, depended on these skills for survival, and their systems and training were as thorough and elegant as any modern martial art.

At Ottawa Swordplay, we train and teach techniques for longsword, rapier, sword and buckler, pollaxe, spear, dagger, grappling, and a uniquely German weapon called a grossemesser ("big knife"). We run programs for adults and for children.